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Checked
Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.
But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?
But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?
408 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2018
About the author
Cynthia Kadohata
28 books563 followersCynthia Kadohata is a Japanese American writer known for her insightful coming-of-age stories about Asian American women. Her first published short story appeared in The New Yorker in 1986. As she spent her early childhood in the American South, the author set both her first adult novel and her first novel for children in Southern states. The former became a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and the latter--her first children's book, entitled Kira-Kira--won the 2005 Newbery Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
June 22, 2018
I'm not sure what it is about Kadohota but she has the super power to get me to care about things I never in a million years would have given two seconds of brain space to before I opened her books. A few years ago it was the life of itinerant combine workers, now it's jr. league hockey. CHECKED give us such a pure, guileless kid. His relationship with his dad, dog and old-man neighbor is utterly engaging and positive.
A total five if I were purely gauging this on my love for the book, but it may be bit bloated and redundant at times and will may repel younger readers.
A total five if I were purely gauging this on my love for the book, but it may be bit bloated and redundant at times and will may repel younger readers.
November 14, 2023
Cynthia Kadohata's legacy will probably always be Kira-Kira, one of the most powerful novels I've read, but she proved herself well beyond that book alone, and in a variety of genres. Checked is her debut sports novel, though it's thematically broader than that. The son of a former NHL prospect, eleven-year-old Conor MacRae has been immersed in hockey for years; starting young is essential for kids who dream of going pro. Conor's father isn't rich, but thinks nothing of pouring money into his son's potential career: team and league fees, premium equipment, travel expenses for out-of-state tournaments...it's a huge commitment, but if Conor is all in, so is his father. Conor's mother died when he was two, but they have extended family for support, and father and son are excited about Conor's hockey future.
This year Conor finally qualifies for a AAA peewee team, but the road to success is bumpier than just learning a complicated playbook and appeasing the hothead coach. After Conor detects a lump on his dog Sinbad's leg, they take the doberman to have it checked, and cancer is diagnosed. Treatment costs more than Conor or his dad can afford, but letting Sinbad die is out of the question. Chemo sessions are begun to shrink the tumor, though the longterm prognosis isn't optimistic. Part of Conor wants to spend all day with his dog, making him comfortable and playing with him when the chemo doesn't sap his strength, but Conor's hockey career won't wait. He's also worried about his father, who's been in the process of divorcing Conor's stepmother for months. That stress and his job as a police officer are wearing on the man; some nights Conor hears him sobbing in his bedroom. Are the demands of Conor's hockey pushing his father over the edge? Can their family survive these trying times?
Conor has good friends in hockey (like Jae-won) and enemies (Jeffrey). Coach Dusan pushes his players to the limit and screams at them if they don't show maximum effort, but he's not unreasonable; physical errors are part of sports, and he patiently coaches the kids to minimize those errors. Between games Conor takes care of Sinbad, helps his elderly neighbor Mr. Reynolds keep his house in order, and urges his own father to seek help if the stress becomes unbearable. Conor's maternal grandparents, who faded from his life following his mother's death, want to get to know him again, but Conor isn't sure he reciprocates the feeling. Why did they ignore him for years if they love him? Maybe they regard Conor the way his stepmother did, as not a real member of their family. Through drama, crisis, happy times, and triumphs on the ice and at home, Conor's life becomes more intriguing as he speeds toward adolescence. Family ties, Sinbad's health, and his own hockey career are all question marks, but to live in the moment is an adventure, and Conor is ready for it. Forget next year; what will a week from now bring?
Checked is a long book full of storylines, some central to the plot and others tangential. Conor moves in and out of the orbit of other people's lives, catching glimpses of their personal journeys. Not every incident is designed to lead to the story's climax; real life is more fragmented than that, which Cynthia Kadohata understands and uses to deepen the story's authenticity. We can look to Conor's future and guess what may happen, but the poignancy of Checked is having to say goodbye before we find out; the window into his life at ages eleven and twelve is insightful, but then he leaves our field of vision. I rate Checked two and a half stars, and if the emotions were more intense I would round to three. Cynthia Kadohata is a brilliant storyteller, and though she has books I recommend ahead of this one, Checked is well worth reading. Are you a hockey fan? Not into sports? Either way, aspects of this novel will grab you.
This year Conor finally qualifies for a AAA peewee team, but the road to success is bumpier than just learning a complicated playbook and appeasing the hothead coach. After Conor detects a lump on his dog Sinbad's leg, they take the doberman to have it checked, and cancer is diagnosed. Treatment costs more than Conor or his dad can afford, but letting Sinbad die is out of the question. Chemo sessions are begun to shrink the tumor, though the longterm prognosis isn't optimistic. Part of Conor wants to spend all day with his dog, making him comfortable and playing with him when the chemo doesn't sap his strength, but Conor's hockey career won't wait. He's also worried about his father, who's been in the process of divorcing Conor's stepmother for months. That stress and his job as a police officer are wearing on the man; some nights Conor hears him sobbing in his bedroom. Are the demands of Conor's hockey pushing his father over the edge? Can their family survive these trying times?
Conor has good friends in hockey (like Jae-won) and enemies (Jeffrey). Coach Dusan pushes his players to the limit and screams at them if they don't show maximum effort, but he's not unreasonable; physical errors are part of sports, and he patiently coaches the kids to minimize those errors. Between games Conor takes care of Sinbad, helps his elderly neighbor Mr. Reynolds keep his house in order, and urges his own father to seek help if the stress becomes unbearable. Conor's maternal grandparents, who faded from his life following his mother's death, want to get to know him again, but Conor isn't sure he reciprocates the feeling. Why did they ignore him for years if they love him? Maybe they regard Conor the way his stepmother did, as not a real member of their family. Through drama, crisis, happy times, and triumphs on the ice and at home, Conor's life becomes more intriguing as he speeds toward adolescence. Family ties, Sinbad's health, and his own hockey career are all question marks, but to live in the moment is an adventure, and Conor is ready for it. Forget next year; what will a week from now bring?
Checked is a long book full of storylines, some central to the plot and others tangential. Conor moves in and out of the orbit of other people's lives, catching glimpses of their personal journeys. Not every incident is designed to lead to the story's climax; real life is more fragmented than that, which Cynthia Kadohata understands and uses to deepen the story's authenticity. We can look to Conor's future and guess what may happen, but the poignancy of Checked is having to say goodbye before we find out; the window into his life at ages eleven and twelve is insightful, but then he leaves our field of vision. I rate Checked two and a half stars, and if the emotions were more intense I would round to three. Cynthia Kadohata is a brilliant storyteller, and though she has books I recommend ahead of this one, Checked is well worth reading. Are you a hockey fan? Not into sports? Either way, aspects of this novel will grab you.
May 29, 2020
(2.5)
Rep: biracial (Japanese American, white) mc, Korean American side character
Rep: biracial (Japanese American, white) mc, Korean American side character
October 8, 2018
I’m not sure why I loved this book so much when it’s too long and lacks a compelling plot. To me, the power of the writing is compelling enough on its own. It’s not poetic writing, it’s crawl-inside-the-brain-of-a-character writing. I found it deeply absorbing and I think there will be young readers who will enjoy it as much as I did. Connor’s life is hockey and it becomes a framework through which we explore the meaning of life.
March 10, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I don't read a lot from this age range, so it was such a nice change of pace to get into the head of a younger protagonist. I am happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there.
•Pro: Conor was so ernest. I just wanted to grab him and give him the biggest hug. He touched upon these feelings of abandonment and guilt that brought a tear or two to my eyes. I was happy he was able to see and appreciate those who didn't leave. His love for his father, aunt, and his best friend was so obvious. I just adored him and his big, beautiful heart.
•Pro: You would think a boy with a cop and ex-hockey player for father, who also played this manly-man sport himself would fall into that jock stereotype, but he didn't. Connor, his dad, his friends, and even the neighbor are all portrayed as human. They feel things, they cry, and they grieve. Kadohata showed it's ok for males to have a sensitive side, and I think that is something really great to show to the target age group.
•Con: I felt like the book may have been a little long, and there were parts that could have been trimmed without sacrificing the story.
•Pro: How could I not love a story that revolves around a boy and his dog. There was so much buried in that relationship alone. Being kind, adopting strays, believing that abused animals can heal, caring for the sick, unconditional love, and being responsible are all lessons I gleaned from Conor and Sinbad's relationship.
•Pro: Conor and his father had such an incredible bond. I loved that his father had real and honest talks with him. He shared things with his son, and didn't hide his struggles with loneliness, his job, and money. He didn't overwhelm the child with these issues, but he didn't deny there were problems when Conor asked.
•Pro: It was such an in-depth look at the sacrifices athletes at the elite level make. Connor's dedication was unreal for someone that young, but I know there are so many young people out there like him. I also liked that Kadohata explores the sacrifices the families of these elite athletes make, as well as the negative impact it can have on the family unit.
•Pro: Connor faced some tough choices in this book, and he handled them with a wisdom beyond his years. He struggled through some personal crises, which made him examine who he thought he was and what he wanted, and I felt Kadohata approached it in a thoughtful way.
Overall: An honest and heartwarming story of growing up. It was quite interesting being inside the mind of a 12 year old boy, as he grapples with some issues in a rather thoughtful and mature way.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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I don't read a lot from this age range, so it was such a nice change of pace to get into the head of a younger protagonist. I am happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there.
•Pro: Conor was so ernest. I just wanted to grab him and give him the biggest hug. He touched upon these feelings of abandonment and guilt that brought a tear or two to my eyes. I was happy he was able to see and appreciate those who didn't leave. His love for his father, aunt, and his best friend was so obvious. I just adored him and his big, beautiful heart.
•Pro: You would think a boy with a cop and ex-hockey player for father, who also played this manly-man sport himself would fall into that jock stereotype, but he didn't. Connor, his dad, his friends, and even the neighbor are all portrayed as human. They feel things, they cry, and they grieve. Kadohata showed it's ok for males to have a sensitive side, and I think that is something really great to show to the target age group.
•Con: I felt like the book may have been a little long, and there were parts that could have been trimmed without sacrificing the story.
•Pro: How could I not love a story that revolves around a boy and his dog. There was so much buried in that relationship alone. Being kind, adopting strays, believing that abused animals can heal, caring for the sick, unconditional love, and being responsible are all lessons I gleaned from Conor and Sinbad's relationship.
•Pro: Conor and his father had such an incredible bond. I loved that his father had real and honest talks with him. He shared things with his son, and didn't hide his struggles with loneliness, his job, and money. He didn't overwhelm the child with these issues, but he didn't deny there were problems when Conor asked.
•Pro: It was such an in-depth look at the sacrifices athletes at the elite level make. Connor's dedication was unreal for someone that young, but I know there are so many young people out there like him. I also liked that Kadohata explores the sacrifices the families of these elite athletes make, as well as the negative impact it can have on the family unit.
•Pro: Connor faced some tough choices in this book, and he handled them with a wisdom beyond his years. He struggled through some personal crises, which made him examine who he thought he was and what he wanted, and I felt Kadohata approached it in a thoughtful way.
Overall: An honest and heartwarming story of growing up. It was quite interesting being inside the mind of a 12 year old boy, as he grapples with some issues in a rather thoughtful and mature way.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 29, 2018
You’ve got to really REALLY love hockey to like this book and then want to read 400+ pages about it. Nice story with the dog but you can skip the whole middle section of the novel to see what the author is getting at.
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November 12, 2019This book reminds me of the crossover series. The main character's life revolves around his or her sport and the story develops based on the sport. I really enjoyed this book.
May 2, 2018
Hockey is Conor’s life but so is Sinbad. Sinbad is Conor’s Doberman who he rescued from a shelter and is an important part of his life. Conor’s father is a police officer and when his father is not home, Sinbad steps in and protects Conor. Conor doesn’t have a mother, she died when he was a toddler and his stepmother wasn’t a fan of hockey, so she stepped out of their lives.
His father used to play hockey and he was good, I mean really good. I thought that perhaps Conor was living his father’s dreams for him, that Conor was playing hockey for his father but no, twelve-year-old Conor loves hockey, he wants to go all the way, just like his father, he wants to be in the NHL. Hockey is expensive. It’s a commitment, an all year commitment. The gear, the practices, the teams, it’s a lot money. Cancer is a lot of money too. Conor faces some tough decisions when Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer. A swollen leg on Sinbad leads to a biopsy and a $7,000 treatment plan has Conor cutting back on the sport he loves.
I loved the relationship between Conor and Sinbad. Conor has made some important sacrifices to help his dog and the bond they have is felt mutually as I read. As Sinbad receives his chemo, his body gets weak but he rebounds and Conor is filled with hope for the future. I knew a bit about hockey but I learned a great deal more as I read. I thought the novel was a bit long in the narration about the sport but then again, I am not a huge hockey fan. This is a great novel for individuals who like sports, for those who like dogs and a great coming of age novel. .5 stars off for being a bit long.
4.5 stars
His father used to play hockey and he was good, I mean really good. I thought that perhaps Conor was living his father’s dreams for him, that Conor was playing hockey for his father but no, twelve-year-old Conor loves hockey, he wants to go all the way, just like his father, he wants to be in the NHL. Hockey is expensive. It’s a commitment, an all year commitment. The gear, the practices, the teams, it’s a lot money. Cancer is a lot of money too. Conor faces some tough decisions when Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer. A swollen leg on Sinbad leads to a biopsy and a $7,000 treatment plan has Conor cutting back on the sport he loves.
I loved the relationship between Conor and Sinbad. Conor has made some important sacrifices to help his dog and the bond they have is felt mutually as I read. As Sinbad receives his chemo, his body gets weak but he rebounds and Conor is filled with hope for the future. I knew a bit about hockey but I learned a great deal more as I read. I thought the novel was a bit long in the narration about the sport but then again, I am not a huge hockey fan. This is a great novel for individuals who like sports, for those who like dogs and a great coming of age novel. .5 stars off for being a bit long.
4.5 stars
January 8, 2020
My fifth graders who play select sports will absolutely connect with 11 year old Conor as he pours his heart, soul, and his dad’s money into becoming the best ice hockey player he can possibly be. Kadohata’s realistic novel follows him during one year of his life as he moves from one age division to the other in the highly competitive sporting world that he loves, faces heartache, loss, and a father’s troubling unhappiness. Readers will meet diverse and well developed characters from Conor’s family, his team and his neighborhood and will likely know people just like them. Non-sporty middle graders may tire of the detailed accounts of non-stop practices, workout sessions and hockey games, but all will read to the end to find out if young Conor earns a spot on an elite team or must settle for something less, if his dad pulls himself out of his melancholy state and what will happen with his ailing “heart dog” Sinbad. This book is recommended for 5th-8th grade lovers of sports who can hang with a 400 page book that does get a bit overly detailed in some sections and will tug on heartstrings a little, but not as much as a Joan Bauer or Lisa Graff novel which may make it more appealing to male readers. (Review of digital ARC from Edelweiss)
June 27, 2018
Hockey is more than just a hobby for many kids, it is life. It's a massive commitment and all that goes into playing the sport was definitely felt reading Checked. I have no doubt Kadohata was part of this hockey world, probably as a parent, since the details about the sport, and the structure of the youth leagues, and the different equipment needed were all so spot on. She really packs a ton of accurate info into the narrative but it doesn't feel overly informative. It's just Conor. I think a lot of heart went into this story and I'm kind of marveling at the fact that Kadohata, a female, was able to so accurately portray Conor, a boy, and his relationship with his father and his dog and his sport.
This is a pretty thick book, and I think trimming it down some would have made it more accessible to the audience Kadohata is aiming for, but even so, it's fantastic as it is.
This is a pretty thick book, and I think trimming it down some would have made it more accessible to the audience Kadohata is aiming for, but even so, it's fantastic as it is.
June 23, 2018
I really liked this. It was a a big read, clocking in a little over 400 pages but it read fast. Very realistic in regards to youth hockey (you can tell the author has experience in that area, her children play hockey). I really liked Conor, he was a responsible kid but still a kid in regards to not understanding everything going on his life. I was impressed with his relationship with his dad, and the author's portrayal of a parent going through depression while still being a good and caring parent. That was well done.
And as a SoCal native I personally enjoyed hearing all the cities that Conor's hockey games took place in -welcome to driving in Southern California where everything is between 1-3 hours away.
And as a SoCal native I personally enjoyed hearing all the cities that Conor's hockey games took place in -welcome to driving in Southern California where everything is between 1-3 hours away.
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January 31, 2020The book was really good. I really like it a lot.
July 30, 2018
Finally a hockey story that feels real. As an Asian American mom who has a competitive ice hockey player, this book depicted my daughter's world and my southern California world. Great author who has a heart of gold!
April 13, 2018
You have to REALLY love hockey to be able to get into this story and enjoy it. I'm not a sports fan, although I do like to watch the Olympics when they're on. That said, the message that the author wanted to get across, or at least I think this is the message, is find what you love and do it passionately, love your family and friends, be loyal to them, and be the best person you can be. So all that was good. Conor's relationship with his dog Sinbad was sweet. Sinbad was his soul mate, something I can completely relate to, as one of my dogs was definitely the love of my life and my soul mate. It didn't matter to Conor or his dad how much money it was going to cost to get the chemotherapy Sinbad needed after he was diagnosed with cancer. I was right them with them on that. I would go completely into debt if need be to get the best medical treatment for my dog. So........why did I give the book only 3 stars? Because 95% of the book is hockey, hockey, and more hockey. It's pretty much nothing but hockey. Way too much hockey. So if you have a kid or a student that's a hockey player and lives and breathes hockey the way Conor does, then I would definitely recommend this book to them. Non hockey fans like me might not enjoy this story that much, even if they are dog lovers. I would have loved it if this had been more of a boy and his dog story with a little hockey thrown in on the side.
February 8, 2021
I think this book would be okay for people who can relate to playing hockey and owning a dog. Most of the book is fillers and a lot of uninteresting information. It was more of a "day in a life" and not a plot. The back cover was also misleading as it said the main character would give up hockey. In the book, he only gave Hockey up for a week and started it again. Jae-won, Lucas, and the Coaches seemed like good characters and made the book slightly interesting. The author put WAY too many things in one book such as classism and a lot of problems in the main characters' life. Hockey was his way of perseverance and I respect that, but the author could've led. The author could've also expanded on the Dad's character and more about how his life as a cop relates to society. Overall this book could've been much better in my opinion, but people who relate to the book probably would've liked it much better than I did.
July 20, 2018
Listened to the audiobook. This book did something really well that I felt was lacking in two other books I've read recently: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl and Out of Left Field. Kadohata does an excellent job at creating a credible voice and character for a kid who has talent, who is good at something, who knows what it really takes to be that good, but also knows what that level really is relative to peers and betters. So many books portray talent and excellence in children in a grossly exaggerated way that this was really pleasurable and refreshing to listen to.
December 18, 2017
Gripping read - I think middle grade readers will find themselves falling into this story. A highly competitive hockey player who must decide between his sport and his sick dog. Very well written.
February 17, 2018
hockey hockey and more and more hockey.
February 16, 2018
Thank you to Edelweiss+ for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Conor's life revolves around two things: his dog, Sinbad, and hockey. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor decides to give up some of his hockey practices to help pay for Sinbad's chemotherapy. His acceptance onto a AAA hockey team, his dad's sadness, and his estranged grandparents also weigh on his mind, and Conor must find way to cope with his feeling of responsibility for those around him.
The relationship between Conor and Sinbad is absolutely beautiful. I don't know when I have read about a boy so incredibly devoted to his dog, and he is the most wonderful and loving human companion. Conor carries so much on his shoulders; not only does he care for his dog, but his dad is crying a lot and he doesn't know how to help him. This book is heavy with sadness, but it's so well-written, and it's easy to cheer for Conor. Although a little on the long side, the emphasis on hockey details will definitely appeal to sports fans, as well as lovers of realistic fiction.
Conor's life revolves around two things: his dog, Sinbad, and hockey. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor decides to give up some of his hockey practices to help pay for Sinbad's chemotherapy. His acceptance onto a AAA hockey team, his dad's sadness, and his estranged grandparents also weigh on his mind, and Conor must find way to cope with his feeling of responsibility for those around him.
The relationship between Conor and Sinbad is absolutely beautiful. I don't know when I have read about a boy so incredibly devoted to his dog, and he is the most wonderful and loving human companion. Conor carries so much on his shoulders; not only does he care for his dog, but his dad is crying a lot and he doesn't know how to help him. This book is heavy with sadness, but it's so well-written, and it's easy to cheer for Conor. Although a little on the long side, the emphasis on hockey details will definitely appeal to sports fans, as well as lovers of realistic fiction.
September 10, 2024
The book Checked is a Fiction book by Cynthia Kadohata which was published by her february 6, 2018. Checked is a fiction book about a young hockey player who is learning the lessons and struggles of life real quick. This story takes place in southern california in the modern day of when this book was published. The main characters in this story are Conor MacRae, his dad Keith, and their dog named sinbad. For a short plot summary of checked the story, a kid, his dad, and dog live alone together and they are big hockey people but run into financial trouble and health problems which puts the kid Connor's dream at a stop.
In my opinion the book checked I enjoyed reading and would give it a solid four out of five stars. It did start out like any other fiction book that is about how hard life is. The thing that surprised me the most was how the author portrayed a kid and dad pushing through troubles and I loved it. I am a big hockey fan and player so I found the whole situation better for me to understand then compared to other books. I would suggest this book to read, it has a lot of surprises to it and if you like hockey you'll like this book.
In my opinion the book checked I enjoyed reading and would give it a solid four out of five stars. It did start out like any other fiction book that is about how hard life is. The thing that surprised me the most was how the author portrayed a kid and dad pushing through troubles and I loved it. I am a big hockey fan and player so I found the whole situation better for me to understand then compared to other books. I would suggest this book to read, it has a lot of surprises to it and if you like hockey you'll like this book.
November 25, 2018
This was a fantastic read. I picked it up because I am always trying to read a few of the sports books we have on the shelves in my library (they aren't what I normally gravitate towards) and this one had a blurb on the back from Jason Reynolds. That was more than enough for me to choose this one for my Thanksgiving weekend read in the car.
Connor is a hockey kid. He lives for hockey, practicing multiple times a week and getting ready for tryouts for a new AAA team. His dad has sacrificed a lot for him to be able to play, to practice, to take lessons, etc. Besides hockey, the only thing Connor really has in his life is his dog Sinbad. But now, Sinbad has cancer. And his cop dad cries at night. And money is super tight. Connor knows he will have to make some hard choices, and that things might not turn out the way he wants, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't work hard and give it his all.
Highly recommend. This is a great sports book, but it is also a great realistic fiction book about a family and the choices we have to make to support one another.
Connor is a hockey kid. He lives for hockey, practicing multiple times a week and getting ready for tryouts for a new AAA team. His dad has sacrificed a lot for him to be able to play, to practice, to take lessons, etc. Besides hockey, the only thing Connor really has in his life is his dog Sinbad. But now, Sinbad has cancer. And his cop dad cries at night. And money is super tight. Connor knows he will have to make some hard choices, and that things might not turn out the way he wants, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't work hard and give it his all.
Highly recommend. This is a great sports book, but it is also a great realistic fiction book about a family and the choices we have to make to support one another.
October 23, 2019
The book “Checked” by Cynthia Kadohata is about a 12 year old boy named Conor, who plays hockey. He has a dog named Sinbad who is his protector and best friend. Conor is in a family mainly of just him and his dad, who is a cop. He has a best friend that he met through hockey named Jae-won, and they are best friends. After he joins his AAA hockey team he learns that his dog Sinbad has cancer, then he has to choose Sinbad or hockey because of the price. He chooses Sinbad and Sinbad goes through treatment. Sinbad survives, Conor knows that Sinbad won’t live much longer. This book was very emotional, exciting, and fun to read. One quote that I found in the book that I thought was important is, “Sometimes I think it’s rich people who resent poor people, not the other way around. Not that we’re poor. But we ain’t rich.” this was important because Conor and his dad don’t have that much money, but they still got through their tough times. I thought this book was amazing and would recommend it to people who love their pets.
September 24, 2022
Not a good book. Absolutely NOTHING happened at all and the whole thing with the dog was glazed over really quick and I feel like they only put it in because otherwise the cover would just say that a kid played hockey. That's it. Definitely not worth more than 400 pages
Also, the author tried WAY too hard to sound like a kid. Conor was just happy about everything and several times the author just said, "well what do I know, I'm only 12". I'm 13 and I DO NOT think like that. Like come on people
Also, the author tried WAY too hard to sound like a kid. Conor was just happy about everything and several times the author just said, "well what do I know, I'm only 12". I'm 13 and I DO NOT think like that. Like come on people
November 10, 2020
I am in no way sporty, and yet I was totally immersed in this middle grade novel of a boy who loves his sport and loves his dog. The unwillingness he has to let anything happen to his puppy companion is so sweet and honest, but his love for hockey was so well shared, too. This is one of the first books I’ve read where I actually understood how deeply someone can love their sport. Well done, and a must for hockey & dog lovers.
May 8, 2020
This is from Hannah Vought.
I thought Checked was amazing! It was almost like I had played hockey too! However, there were some disturbing thoughts about stories Conor’s dad told when he’s a cop....and those thoughts didn’t feel good. But, overall I think Cynthia Kadohata did a magnificent job!
I thought Checked was amazing! It was almost like I had played hockey too! However, there were some disturbing thoughts about stories Conor’s dad told when he’s a cop....and those thoughts didn’t feel good. But, overall I think Cynthia Kadohata did a magnificent job!
June 21, 2023
It was a decent book, there wasn't really a set plot though and it was hard to read for someone who needs a intriguing plot to get into a book. Other than that it was a decent story, i mostly enjoyed the ending chapters the most.
February 27, 2024
Conor and I read this together. He says “It’s a good story about hockey. There was a lot of problem and solution about his dog. Each chapter ended with suspense pushing us to want to keep reading. I liked that the main character was named Conor spelled like my name.”
September 26, 2019
3.5 stars
May 6, 2021
It was so good I think that the only problem I had was concentrating on a lot that was happening but other than that it was really an interesting story
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June 4, 2021I really liked this book.
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